Economics of production and marketing of mushroom in Dehradun district of Uttarakhand
Loading...
Date
2020-12
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand)
Abstract
Mushroom cultivation may be one of the important subsidiary enterprises for raising income and employment of small and marginal farmers. Thus, in view of the low level of farm income and employment in Dehradun District, mushroom may serve as an important source of additional income and utilize surplus family labour. Therefore, studies were needed to investigate economics aspects of mushroom production. The study was conducted in Vikasnagar, Sahaspur, Doiwala, and Raipur blocks of Dehradun District of Uttarakhand with the following objectives. 1) To work out the cost of and returns from mushroom cultivation. 2) To examine resource use efficiency of Mushroom production. 3) To identify the existing marketing channels and determine their marketing efficiency. 4) To identify and rank various constraints faced by mushroom growers. The data for fulfilling different objectives were procured for selected mushroom growers and various concerned offices (District Department of Horticulture). In total 60 number of growers were selected from the study area. The study revealed that the cost of production per bag was Rs 134.08. However, the yield of mushroom per bag was obtained 2.134 kg. The average price received per kg of mushroom by the mushroom grower in the study area was Rs 120. Net returns from mushroom cultivation were Rs 58 per kg. The value resource use efficiency for number of bags (1.36), straw (1.16), spawn (2.78), casing (1.69), and chemicals (1.46) came out to be greater than unity indicated under-utilization of these resources. However, for labour value of MVP/MIC came out to be less than unity revealed the over-utilization of the resource. With the presence of three marketing channels in the study area, the channel-II (4.40) was found more efficient as compared to channels-III (4.27). The most important and severe constraints prevail were marketing of produce and lack of non availability of suitable marketing for produce for the sale of mushroom at low prices. There is an urgent need for re-organizing the various agencies involved in promotion and development of production of mushroom production, need for adequate and well technical qualified staff for providing extension facilities, imparting necessary training and for supplying inputs and there should be a competitive market for the marketing of produce.